Moron Coaches

Michael has his Beta Club induction this evening and he also has a basketball game. The game was not on the schedule until this past Monday when it got added, and the induction has been on the schedule for months. So his coaches told him last night that they needed to remember what a commitment means and that they were on this team first, and they weren't going to tell anyone what to do, but that they should be there. So then the Beta Club advisor said this was a huge deal and a very special ceremony and that they really needed to be there ... well, for Michael this was very stressful as to what to do. Jonathan and I told him he is going to his induction and not the game. Then I called his coach today (his coach is not the one who gave the commitment speech ... it was the other coach) - but I called his coach anyway and he tries to make it sound like Michael had gotten the speech all wrong. He said they were really talking about the boys on the team who were flunking off the team, etc which is a total lie!!! Now I was not there for the whole speech so I didn't have alot to go on, but I know this is not true. It floors me when people cannot admit or accept what they have done, but try to lie their way out of everything.

Our Little Mary

So I got a call from a girl at church asking if Lindsey would be Mary in at the Ward Christmas Party. I said, I didn't know ... I would have to ask her and see what she said. It involves singing a solo, "Mary's Lullaby" and what else, I am not sure. So I asked her that night and she said she didn't think she could do that but she would think about it. Well, the next day at school, she told her teacher who is in our Ward. Sister Denton told her that she really needed to do this and that she would be so wonderful at it. So Lindsey came home from school and kept asking me if I had gotten the mail yet and said that the mail was here and I really needed to go get it. I was kind of brushing her off and finally she said, you really need to get the mail because I put my answer in the mailbox if I will be Mary or not. I went and looked and there was a note that said, Yes, I will be Mary in the play. It was really cute. So she has been practicing every day, and I am greatly anticipating the party to see if she can really get up in front of everyone and sing. Erin, bless her heart, has been practicing right along with Lindsey. She wants to do this so badly, but was not asked. I think she knows there is a chance Lindsey will not sing, and Erin will be ready to step right up and save the show! The day Lindsey gave her "answer", she made me call her teacher at home and tell her that she was going to do it. Her teacher said she would sit right in the front row and that pleased Lindsey. Saturday will tell all!!!

All Mid-West

On Saturday, Michael auditioned for and made the All Mid-West Tennessee Honor Band. It is for 7-9th grades and he will be sitting third chair in the 2nd band. We are so excited about this! He will get to play where the Symphony plays, down in Memphis and I think the reason we are so happy is this is the first time he has been really excited about music. He sounded so good prior to his audition, and thought his audition went well. I think he owes it all to his first teacher ... that would be Briana!

He also tonight gets inducted into the Beta Club, which is a national honor club for middle school students. They have added more responsibilities to his Deacon Quorum Presidency calling ... and between that and all of his basketball/karate, etc. he is turning into quite the busy kid. I will be glad for a couple weeks off at Christmas.

Erin made her first basket! It was so fun to watch her, but more fun to watch her excitement. She is the point guard on her team and is doing such a good job.

Andrew is potty training - YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lindsey started taking the bedwetting pill (actually nasal spray) and has not wet the bed or needed those overnight pants for about 2 weeks. She feels so good and we are thinking that by not buying those or diapers (those overnight pants are about 60 cents each!) that will be half of our car payment, which we have not done anything about yet. We are very slow moving people and need lots of time to mull this all over. Most likely, we will make a decision on what to do by the end of this week.

Think I'm Still in RI!

I can never remember my blog name, so I go to Holly's and then click on myself to get here. However, I always first click on Rhode Island Wards because obviously, I still view myself as such! As long as we are here, I remember fairly well where we live and all, but when we are displaced, as in vacation, I barely remember which state we live in anymore! It is crazy!

Michael came into our room last night and you could tell he wanted to talk because he was putting off going to bed. So he comes out with, what do you do when a girl asks you if you want to go out (as in the middle school girlfriend/boyfriend thing.) Jonathan asked, why did someone ask you that, and yes, as a matter of fact, someone did. It was so cute! It is a girl drummer in his band, who is also into sports. I know who she is. Her name is May. So apparently, she asked him out, he said no thanks, and then she wrote him this note that explained she had thought he liked her, etc. He does kind of like her, but he thinks he cannot participate in any of this stuff until he is 16. He thinks he's basically not even "allowed" to like a girl until he's 16 -- and he is very obedient. Can't you (in church etiquette) still "go out" with someone if you don't really date -- or do you tell them they can't have anything to do with the opposite sex in any way until 16 - what exactly does this whole "16" thing mean? I'd love some insight because I think it's rather unrealistic. Can't you just talk on the phone a little and write some cute notes?

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are off to my parent's new home in North Carolina. Actually, we are not off yet ... will leave Wed around noon. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are excited to see where they live and to see my sister and her super cute kids, too. My sister has been in her new home for 6 years or something like that and we have never even been to it.

I really like the schools here. They get off the entire Thanksgiving week and the kids and I think it's really great!

Game 2

Michael scored 2 points last night, but what a great 2 points they were. He faked someone out and then did some jump shot kind of deal for his basket. I believe I was the proudest mom there! Then the half ended and my boy, who was looking better than anyone out there, was not put back in until the last 5 minutes or so. I could not figure it out. Michael is a fantastic shooter and those guys out there shot and missed, shot and missed, etc. It went on like that forever and I kept thinking, put Michael back in! They ended up losing, and I think it was all the coach's fault.

He was then asked to dress for the varsity game. I think he thought he was going to play (which he didn't), but I thought it was more of a complimentary type of thing. So he sat the bench for the 2nd game, but I was just so thrilled because when he was playing, he looked so much more confident than last year. He looked like he belonged out there and last year he looked kind of lost.

Erin's coach called last night and she starts practice on Thursday. She is a pretty good player and it will be equally as fun to watch her play!

Grizzlies Game

Michael scored 4 big points at his first bb game this season. He hit a 3 pointer and then must have gotten a foul shot for the last point. The 3 pointer was a buzzer shot,and he was just thrilled. I did not go to the game, but sure heard lots about it and I am thrilled for him.

Last night, the Navy Band played at the Grizzlies game and we did not all go because it was an 8 hours day (they had to be there really early), so Jonathan took Michael and the girls and I (and Andrew) spent the afternoon at a birthday party. We had fun but I think they had more excitement. They got a pass to pretty much go anywhere, so Michael got to go down to the court and was able to get some autographs. After the band was done playing, they got to go sit really close (which we never do, we always have the $5 tickets!) and Michael said it was the best day of his life. He was really cute talking all about it last night when they got home.